It is Baseball's fault (Pete Rose)

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Being compasionate/helpful/offering treatment and holding the addict responsible for rules/laws are not at odds with each other. In fact, they are completely compatable if you are trying to help the addict.

MLB had a reasonable, long standing and clearly communicated set of rules about gambling (the rules were posted in every lockerroom). Rose broke them .... There are no exceptions in drinking and driving laws that allows one to skip all penalties if he is an alcoholic, and there are no rules in MLB that allow you to bet on MLB baseball if you are a gambling addict.

Should you offer the addict help, compassion, kindness and understanding? Yes.
Should the addict be held responsible for the rules they broke? Yes.

It's not an either/or situation. It's a both/and.

I'm not a Rose fan, but my personal feeling is that once he has genuinely addressed his gambling and lying problems, the ban should be lifted. I'm sure Selig himself happy to see Rose tackle his ongoing troubles.